Cutting machine



Dec. 16, 1941. COHEN l 2,266,166

CUTTING MACHINE Filed April l5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l ywvng INVENTOR.#ar/'y Ga//en ATTORNEY H. COHEN CUTTING MACHINE .Dec. 16, 1941.

i Filed `April l5, 1940 2 SheeS-SheefI 2 INVENTOR /larry Co/ren ATTORNEYA Patented Dec. 16, 1941/ UNITED STATES uPATENT QFFICE.I

CUTTING MACHINE Harry Cohen, Bronx, N. Y. Application April 15,1940,seriaiN. 329,764

(ci. 'so-274) 16 Claims.

My invention relates to cloth cutting machines,

" and, more particularly, relates to 'a cutting machine having anendless chain of cutting blades.

Cloth cutting machines in present use are either of the round knife orstraight knife type. The round knife cutter has the great advantage thatit -is easily kept sharp with a very simple and eicient automaticSharpener. comings are that the depth of fabric is limited i to theradius of the blade, it cannot be used to cut a sharp corner or to stopa cut at the same point on all'the layers of cloth', and it isinaccurate on turns and difcult to use on stiff fabrics where knifecutterv makes excellent curves and sharp corners and has an excellentdepth of cut. major faults are that the cutting edge, being relativelyconsiderably shorter than in the round Its major short- `turns orcorners are indicated. The straight Figure 1' is a side elevationalview, partly in section, of my cutting machine with cover plate removed;Fig. 2, a fragmentary rear elevational view, partly in section, of thedevice of Figure `l; Fig. 3,'a fragmentary plan section on the line 3-3of Figure 1, with the cover plate in place; Fig. 4, a perspective viewof one of my cutting blades;'Fig. 5, an elevational view of the innerside' of the cover plate; Fig.'6, a diagrammatic view of part of thepropelling' mechanism showing the method of speed control of the deviceof Figure 1; Fig. '7, a diagrammatic view of afmodication of thepropelling and control mechanism of the device of Figure `6; Fig. 8, afragmentary vertical section of the handle of themodification of Figure'l showing the details of the manual control; and Fig. 9, a fragmentarydiagram of an alter- `native method for control of the device of'Figknife cutter, requires more frequent sharpening,"v

it is not adaptableto simple 'efficient automatic sharpening, and yitmust'be used with a presser foot which ruies the material, especially onturns or corners. Also, cutting machines are heavy and requireconsiderable manual effort to push them through starched fabricsor-thick piles of material, making the cutting operation very laborious.Y

The primary object of my invention is to provide a cutting machinehaving the advantages of both the round knife and straight knife cutterswithout their disadvantages.

A further object of my invention is to provide a vstraight edge cutterhaving a continuously moving endless blade.

Another object of my invention is to produce aA cutter of simple andefficient design having readily replaceable inexpensive cutting blades.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a self-propelledcutter whose speed is man'- ually controlled by the operator.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, my-

invention consists essentially of a motor-driven endless chain-ofcutting blades suitably encased With its associated mechanism to presentto the layers of material to be cut, a continuously moving verticalcutting edge, and including means to propel the complete device manuallyor automaticlally at controlled speed.'

The invention, both as to details of construction and combination ofparts, will best be understood from the following description of aspecic embodiment which I illustrate as an example, when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

ure 7.

Referring nowv tothe drawings, I have shown in Fig. 1 a cuttercomprising a supporting housing I2 mounted on a base I3 and carrying atits top an electric motor I4 with its shaftl I5 in vertical position Ahorizontal control handle I6 axially rotatable in an attaching'ferruleI'I- projects rearwardly from the top of the housing I2. The motor shaftI5 extends downwardly into/ the housing I2 and carries two bevel pinions-I 8 and I9.

Pinion I9 is at the end of shaft I5 and engages a gear ZIl'which carriesa concentric ball bearing 25 of conventional type which permits the gearto rotate'freely on a horizontal shaft 2| journaled at one end in abearing 22 in housing l2 and at the other in abearing 23 in the coverplate 24 shown in Fig. 5.

A driving sprocket wheel 30 integral with gear y 20 is providedvwithfour teeth 3I, 3| which are adapted to engage a notch 32 in the rearedge 33 of the cutting blades 34, 34.

The blades 34 are interchangeable and are provided at the ends withcircular ears or flanges 35and 36 cut down' from opposite Afaces to halfthe thickness of the blade so that the flanges of adjacent blades maylap each other to form plane surfaces. Each of the leading flanges 35carries an integral axial pin 31 and the follower flange 36 an axialopening 38 forming a sliding fit with pin. 31 so that a suitable numberof blades may be fitted together to form an endless chain knife with thepins 3l extending outwardly on either side. A driven or idler sprocketwheel 39, similar to wheel 30 and having a ball bearing 26, is rotatablymounted at the lower part of the husing I2 on a shaft 40. Shaft 40 hasone bearing 4I in housing I2 and lthe other bearing 42 .in

' thev cover platev24. The opening in housing I2 comprising bearing 4Iis slotted vertically to house a stiffspring 43 which is placed aboveand presses is such that the complete chain will fit snugly in place onwheels 3|I and 39, the ends of, pins 31 lying in a suitable groove 45 inhousing I2 and a corresponding` groove 48 in cover plate 24 to hold theblades firmly when the cutter is pushed into the material being cut. Thegrooves 45 and 48 are widened slightly in the region of the lower curveto permit the springs 43 and 44 to take up the lost motion in the chainofblades. As viewed in Fig. 1, rotation ofthe chain of blades iscounterclockwise. Although the knife consisting of fabric up toward thevertical front part of the knife to assure a str ight cut through thepile of material, in a ma er similar to action of 'the lusuel threatp1ete in the round knife cutter.

The propelling mechanism includes the rear driving rollers 85 and 88 anda belt pulley 88 the chain of blades would `operate satisfactorily ifthe trailing ends of blades 34 were deflnedby.

the perpendicular to the cutting edge intersecting the axis of theopening 38, the vertical cutting action can be continued closer to thebase the trailing ends oftheblades extend rearwardly beyond that point,as illustrated. .'This follows because the trailing ends -sweep outwardas the blades revolve about wheel 39, with a re-` integral with a shaft81 :lournaled in suitable bearings in the base |3. A belt 89,connectspul-4 ley 88 with a pulley 19 fixed on a shaft 1| rotatably mounted inbearings carried on a support 12 arrangedto slide in a forward'directionin end guides 13, 13 against the tension of springs 14, 14. Fixed toshaft 1| is a friction roller 18 which, when support 12 is pulledforward suiiiciently, engages a similar roller 18 mounted on a shaft 11rotatable in fixed bearings 18 and 19. At one end ofshaft 11 is mounteda bevel gear 89 which engages another bevel gear 8| ixedI to a shaft 82which extends vertically up through a. suitable aperture 83 in theAAnarrow part into the expanded upper part of the housing |2. Shaft 82 issuitably journaled in bearings 84 and 85 and carries a 'gear 88 at itsupper end which is' y engaged by'a worm 81 on a suitably journaledsultant increased accuracy of cutting of the botl tom layers of fabrics.

The cover plate 24 is vdrilled at the corners for attachment by machinescrews to the housing I2 which is suitably tapped at the points 41, 49,5I

and 52. Cover 24 has a tongue and groove fit to housing `I'2 at the rearof the cutter, a blade opening being provided bya suitable recess in thefront edge of the housing I2 between the boss 48 and the throat plate 58in which are respectively i the tapped 'openings 41 and 49. The frontedge of the cover plate -actsas a guide for the blades vicing. i

and must rbe. set fairly tight rto the blades to minimize side play.'With theA cover plate removed as illustrated in Fig. 1, the blades 34are readily removable for replacement or other ser:

My cutter is of stone wheels are brought into angular drive Irelationwith .the knife edge of the moving blade.

. .In Figs. l 'and 2 the stones 55 are "rotatably mounted adjacent oneanother ona bifurcated crank arm in a bearing 58 on housing I2 andturned by a crank lever 59. Lever 59 is operated through a equipped withthe conventional round-knife automatic Sharpener in which a pair 58fixed to a crank 'shaft 51 journaled with the stones 55 held up out ofthe Way of the work, by a spring 62 as shown in the solid lines. When.the head 83 of the push rod 8.0 is depressed by the operator, the lever59 is pushed forward turning shaft 5 1 and arm 5,8 into the`positionshown by the dotted'lines so that the grinding wheels engage the cuttingedge of each of the blades 34 at the proper angle for sharpening.

Ifhe motor I4 is of the conventional type and is provided with the usalelectricity supply cord and control switch (not. illustrated).Operationof the motor -turns theqdrivin'g wheel 30 counter-`clockwise,.througlfrpinion I9 and gear 20, moving the straight frontedge of the chain knife 34, 34

sary vertical movementof the shaft 88' within rotatable shaft 88 drivenfrom pinion I8 through' a similar bevel pinion 89. 'Ihe front part ofthe cutting machine rolls on idling rollers 95.

' The support 12 is pulled forward by a exible wire 98 borne in a'helical flexiblemetal sleeve 9| which is suitably supported and iscarried tot the handle I8 through an opening 92 in the narrow verticalpart of housing I2. The wire 90 enters the handle I8 through a`Tsuitable annular'slot Y and terminates at a pin 93 which projectsradially outward into a helical 'slot 94 in the surface of the' handleI8. The metal sleeve 9I terminates within the .annular slot and is stiifenough. to

constrain movement of pin 93 longitudinally to the handle.

Counterclockwise viewed in Fig. 2 pulls wire 98 against the tension ofsprings 14, forcing rollers 15 and 18 into frictional engagement andtightening belt 89 to drive rollers and 88. Speed is controlled by thedegree of torque exerted on handle I8.

A modification of my,-propelling mechanism is shown in Figs. 'I and 8where the driving roller 85^ with its rotatable shaft 81' is driven fromthe a cross shaft 98 through shaft 88' is goumaled in'al bearing |88mounted .I

to rotate inthe vertical plane through a small angle withoutdisengagement of thedriven pin' 'ion from the. driving pinion I8. Theother enl of shaft 88 is iournaled in a bearing I|I| integral with adepressible member or push button I 82 and movable vertically in a well|03 in the han'- dle I8' against aspring'- |04 positioned in the well|93. -The well |03 in handle I8' is counterbored so that the button |82can be depressed below the handle surface. A suitable slot |85 in theinterior of the handle |8 permits the necesthe handle.

Tlie shaft 88 and roller 99 are no rmally in rotation'while the motor isrunning. i When the continuously downward. The throat plates 58 "and 84,intgral with the housing I2 and-cover i N24 respectively. serve toforceAthe cloth or other button |82 is depressed, roller 99 is forced intoengagement with -the\disk 88' causing it to revolve. rotating shafts82', 98, and 81', thus'pnorotation of the handlev I8 as l nerillustrated in Fig. 7.

pelling the machine in a forward direction. The degree of pressure onthe `buttonllJZ will'control the speed of forward movement of thecutter.

The speed control mechanism of the modification of Figs. 7 and 8 canbeoperated by a twisting movement of the handle as Well as by pressure ona depressible member. This is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 9which shows a shaft 88" journaled in a vertically translatable bearing10|' biased upwardly by a spring |04', similarly to the constructionshown in Fig. 7. The bearing IDI' is mounted on anarm Il!) transverse toand pivoted at a point H2 to one side of 'shaft 88". A continuation ofthe arm H0 beyond the bearing IBI' carries aaperpendicular extension H4parallel to the shaft 88". The extension H4 projects into the inner endof the handle I6 at a point H6 near the periphery, the handle I6 beingcircular in section and mounted for rotation on an axis aligned with theshaft 88". Clockwise rotation of the handle I6" causes shaft 88" to bedepressed; communicating the drive to the rear rollers/inthe man-Itshould be understood that for smooth cutting it is very importanttohave the knife edge continuous as is the case in the round knife cutter.The knife of my invention has this-continnous cutting edge f orpractically all of its useful travel and should not be confused withchain knives in Which the blades have been spaced apart during cuttingaction, and which have proved impracticable because of the -choppingaction which resulted from the presence of the spaces between theblades.

In place of the flanges 35 and 36 being respectively ush with oppositefaces of the blade 34, these flanges may be flush with either face, theadjacent blades then having the flanges flush with the other'face. Insuch c ase spare blades of both types would be required for replacementof worn blades. It is immaterial Whether pin 31 is integral with flange35 or flange 36 and it may even be a loose pin. K

In place of the depressible speed control memmachine manually or operateit under power drive at the desired speed.

2. In a portable motor-driven cutting machine having a base providedwith a plurality of rollber |02 being a push button as illustrated, itmay have any shape and maybe arranged for operation by the thumb,fingers or palm of the operator.

It is intended that my cutting machine be provided with the conventionalknife guard in general use with round knife cutters to prevent injury topersons or objects which might inadvertently come into contact with theportion of the knife above the pile of material being cut. The guard, asis well known in the art, comprises a metal bar mounted in front of thecutting edge, secured above the knife, and adjustable for various depthsof material to be cut.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, suchdescription is intended ers, variable speed power transmission means fordriving certain of said rollers from themotor, a rotatable handle, andmeans controlled by rotation of said handle for rendering saidfirstnamecl means effective to rotate the driven rollers and to controltheir speed of rotation, whereby the operator` may selectively propelthe machine manually oroperate it under controlledspeed automatic drive.

3. In a portable motor-operated cutting machine having a handle and'abase provided with a plurality of rollers, variable speed powertransmission means for driving certain of said rollers from said motor,a resiliently mounted depressible member in said handle, and meanscontrolled by pressure on said member for rendering said first-namedmeans effective to drive the driven rollers and to control their speedof rotation, whereby the operator may selectively propel the machinemanually or operate it' under controlled -speed automatic drive.

4. A cutting machine knife comprising a series of blades pivotallyconnected together to form a revoluble endless chain, each blade havingan outer straight cutting edge and having blade ends and pivotalconnections constructed and arranged to cooperatively t with adjacentblades for alignment of cutting edges to form a straight knife edge,said blades being flat and each provided with'a leading and a trailingend flange of reduced thickness, the flanges of adjacent blades lappingto produce plane orbital surfaces, and said pivotal connectionscomprising a transverse pin in one flange and a transverse opening inthe other flange of each blade, the .pin in one blade cooperating withthe-opening in the adjacent blade for articulation in the orbital plane.

5. In a fabric cutting machine having a base and a top mounted motor, anarrow vertical housing having a side cover plate and disposed edgefrontward on said base and supporting said motor, said front'edge beingstraight and having a vertical slot therein, a knife comprising a seriesof bladesA pivotally connected together by transverse pins protrudingoutwardly from both sides of said knife to form a revoluble endlesschain, each blade having'an outer straight cutting edge and being shapedto -cooperatively t with adjacent blades for alignment of cutting edgesto form a straight knifegedge, means to support said knife within thehousing and'to guide the blades .with the cutting edges protruding fromsaid slot and in alignment parallel to said front edge for part of therevolution of said as illustrative rather than limiting. as numerousembodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. My invention,therefore, is not to be limited except insofar as is necessitated by theprior art -or by the spirit of the appended claims.

` Iclaim':

1. In a portable motor-operated machine for cutting fabrics, having abase provided with front and rear rollers, means for .driving the rearrollers from the motor at variable speed and manually 5operable meansfor rendering said first-named means effective to drive said rearrollers and to adjust their speed of rotation,

whereby the operator may selectively propel the knife, said meansincluding said housing and said cover which have parallel inner surfacesbetween which the knife revolves, each of said surfaces being slottedinternally to\engage said pins with a sliding ft, the internal slotsbeing shaped to constrain revolution of the knife in the desired orbitand toprovide support' for resisting pressure when the machine ispressed against 'the fabric and the front edge slot providing transversealignment of the protruding portion of the knife whereby to insure theequivalent of a rigid knife, and powertransmission means to drive saidknife from said motor.

6. In a portable motor-operated machine for cutting fabrics,` having abase provided Withrollers from the motor at variable speed and means forrendering said first-named means effective to drive said rear rollersand to control their speed of rotation, said first-named meanscomprising a mechanical transmission including two cooperatingfrictional members, oneof said members being movable transversely to itsaxis of rotation into and out of engagement with said other member andspring-biased out of engagement therewith, and said second-named meanscomprising a manually operable mechanism for machine manually or operateit under automatic drive at-the desired speed,l

moving said movable member into engagement y with the othermemberagainst the force of the spring and for controlling the pressurebetweenV said members.

7. In a portable motor-operated machine for cutting fabrics, having abase provided with front and rear rollers, means for driving the rearrollers from the motor at variable speed and means for rendering saidfirst-named means effective to drive said rear rollers and to controltheir speed 'of rotation, said first-named means comprising a mechanicaltransmission including a reducing gear train, a drivingfriction roller,a cooperating driven friction roller, a mounting for said drivenfriction roller movable to selectively contact or separate said frictionrollers and spring biased to separate them, and a belt drivetransmitting rotation from said` driven friction roller to said real;rollers, and said second-named means comprising a rotatable handlehaving a helically slotted periphery, a pin engaging the slot andarranged for movement parallel to the p axis of the handle when saidhandle is turned, and a flexible pull wire connecting said ymounting andsaid pin, said Wire being guided so that movement of said pin istransmitted to said mounting against the action of the spring.

8. In a portable motor-operated machine for cutting fabrics, having abaseprovided with front and rear rollers, means for driving the yrearrollers from the motor at variable speed and means for rendering saidfirst-named means effective to drive said rear rollers and to controltheir speed of rotation, said first-named means comprising a mechanicaltransmission including a shaft mounting said rear rollers, a rotatablefriction disk, a gear train communicating the rotation of said disk tosaid shaft, a friction wheel, and a rotatable drive shaft carrying said#wheel and geared to said motor, said drive shaft being' pivotallyjournaled and so disposed that said'wheel is movableinto and out ofengage- 10. A cutting machine knife comprising a series of bladespivotally connected together to form a revoluble endless chain, eachblade having an outer straight cutting edge and having blade ends andpivotal connections constructed and arranged to cooperatively fit withadjacent bladesfor alignment of cutting edges to form a straight knifeedge, said blades being flat and each provided with a leading and atrailing end flange of reduced thickness, the flanges of adjacent bladeslapping to produce plane orbital surfaces, and said pivotal connectionscomprising registering transverse openings inthe lapping flanges andseparable pins fitting transversely into said registering openings,whereby adjacent blades pivot on the connecting pin for articulation inthe orbitalplane.

11. In a portable motor-operated machine for cutting fabrics, means forpropelling the machine automatically at various speeds and manuallyoperable means for rendering said propelling means effective to -propelthe machine and to adjust the speedat which it is propelledautomatically, whereby the operator may selectively propel the machinemanually or operate it under ing said first-named means effective todrive said rollers and to control their speed of rotation,

whereby the operator may selectively propel the machine manually oroperate it under power drive at the desired speed.

13. In a portable motor-operated cutting machine having-a base providedwith rollers, means for driving certain of said rollers from the motorat variable speed and manually operable means for rendering saidfirst-named means eifective to drive said certain rollers and to controltheir speed of rotation, whereby the operator may selectively'propel themachine manually or operateit under power drive at the-desired l speed.

mentwith said disk while being rotated by the i motor 'and being springbiased to hold the wheel in disengaged position, and said second-namedmeansI comprising a manually depressible member for moving said driveshaft against the spring bias.

9. In a machine of the class described, a series of cutting bladespivotally connected together to form a revoluble endless chain knife,each blade having an outer straight cutting edge and being shaped tocooperatively fit with, adjacent blades for alignment of cutting edgesto form a straight knife edge, means to guide the blades v .duringrevolution of the knife whereby a succes- 14. In a machine of the classdescribed, a series of cutting blades pivotally connected togetherv toform a revoluble endless chain knife, each blade having an outerstraight cutting edge and being shaped to Acooperatively fit withadjacent blades` for alignment of cutting edges to form a straight knifeedge, means to guide the blades during revolution of the knife whereby asuccessive plurality of blades are constrained with cutting edges inalignment for movement parallel with said alignment, said knife beingarticulated by means of transverse pins connecting said blades forrelative rotation about the axes of said pins, said pins protrudingoutwardly from both sides of said' knife, and the blade guiding meansincluding two housing members having parallel surfaces between whichsaid knife revolves, each of said surfaces being slotted to engage saidpins i with a sliding t, the slots being shaped to consive plurality ofblades are constrainedwith cutting edges in alignment for movementparallel with said alignment, means for propelling the machineautomatically at various speeds, and

manually operable means for rendering said propeiling means effective topropel the machine strain revolution of the knife in the desired orbit.15. In a fabric cutting machine having a base and a topmounted motor, anarrow vertical housing disposed edge frontward on said base andsupporting said motor, said front edge being straight and having avertical slot therein, a knife comprising a series of blades pivotallyconnected together to form a revoluble endless chain,

and to adjust the speed at which it is propelled,

whereby the operator may selectively propel the each blade havinganouter straight cutting edge 2,266,166 and being shaped to. cooperativelyt with adjacent blades for alignment of cutting edges to form a straightknife edge, means to support said knife within the housing and to guidethe blades with the cutting edges protruding from said slot and inaugment parallel to said front edge for part of the revolution of saidknife, the blade chain revolving in a plane orbit over 'a drivingsprocket wheel and an idler sprocket wheel, the

rear edge of each of said blades being shaped so l0 ries of bladespivotally connected together to form aa revoluble end less chain, eachblade baving an outer straight cutting edge and having blade-ends andpivotal connections constructed and arranged to cooperatively fit withadjacent bladesfor alignment of cutting edges to form a straight knifeedge, said .blades being at and each provided with a leading and atrailing end iiange of reduced thickness, the flanges of adjacent bladeslapping to produce plane orbital `surfaces, and said pivotal connectionseach comprising a transverse pin in a blade ii'ange and a transverseopening in the lapping ange of the Aadjacent blade, said pin cooperatingwith said opening for*V articulation of the two blades in the v 15orbital plane.

HARRY COHEN.

